Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 05/05/2023 K-Gr 4—In this ode to creativity, an enthusiastic pen, marker, pencil, and a ruler gather to help their owner Birdie's, "crisis of imagination." Once filled with ideas, Birdie now has an empty "awesome ideas jar" on her desk and a looming due date, circled in red. Worst of all: the dreaded blank page stares at her, empty, as she chews nervously on her pencil waiting for ideas. Airy illustrations, created digitally, offer sneaky details for kids to spot as the determined office supplies guide readers through three empowering storytelling rules: "Pay attention. Done is better than perfect. Only YOU can write your story." They also plant clues to fuel Birdie's lost creativity. It doesn't come easily, but Birdie finally finds her spark—and leaves herself (and the reader) an important message for the next time she's stuck: "Always begin with wonder." VERDICT Positive message and great read-aloud potential with advice that will resonate with both writing-phobic kids and their adults. Recommended for all collections.—Rebecca Kirshenbaum - Copyright 2023 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.